Occupy Oakland Holds Rally In Solidarity with Phoenix, Opposes ALEC

Imagine 2050 Staff • Nov 30, 2011

Photo by David Bacon

At 5pm on Wednesday, November 30th, Occupy Oakland and community members will rally at Fruitvale Plaza to say no to criminalization, incarceration, and corporate profiteering at the expense of immigrant communities.

Fruitvale is a mostly Latino neighborhood in Oakland. According to a member of Occupy Oakland, “This is a moment of possibilities. We are using the momentum of the Occupy Movement to stand against injustices that have impacted communities of Oakland for a long time.”

Bigoted measures such as Secure Communities, Mandatory Minimum Sentencing, Truth in Sentencing, and Gang Injunctions impact Oakland’s communities in regressive ways. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an organization comprised of 2000 legislators and 300 corporate members, has been behind many of these corrupt, anti-immigrant policies.

According to ALEC Exposed, “ALEC has been on a long secretive collaboration between big business and conservative politicians.”

From November 29 to December 3rd, ALEC is holding a conference in Scottsdale, AZ. The conference will prioritize bills to privatize education, break unions, deregulate major industries, and pass Voter I.D. laws.

Occupy Phoenix and Shut ALEC Down have bottom-lined a grassroots effort to oppose ALEC and the injustices they support. According to their call out, “We’re calling for four days of action here in occupied Onk Akimel O’odham lands from November 29th to December 3rd, 2011, with an emphasis for action on November 30th (N30!). We encourage a creative diversity of tactics on N30, the 12th anniversary of the Seattle uprising against the WTO.”

And so, today, Occupy Oakland will hold a rally in solidarity with Occupy Phoenix and all immigrant communities to oppose ALEC and to put an end to anti-immigrant policies that criminalize and ostracize them. From 12-4 PM Occupy Oakland will host an informational session about ALEC, immigration policies, and the efforts to put an end to oppressing communities of color, which will be held at the Oscar Grant Plaza. And then at 5pm, Occupy Oakland will hold a rally at Fruitvale Plaza to put an end to criminalizing immigrant communities. Afterward, Occupy Oakland will hold a General Assembly at Fruitvale Plaza, as well.

This is just one example of how the Occupy Movement has become a springboard for fighting for immigrant and racial justice. Today, we stand in solidarity with Occupy Oakland, Occupy Phoenix, and immigrant communities to oppose attacks on communities of color.